18K Gold price today

The price of 18-karat gold is the figure gold shops quote for each gram of jewelry gold, and it is the basis for the price of rings, bracelets and necklaces in Iran's market. On this page you can see the live price of one gram of 18-karat gold in Toman. Below we explain where this price comes from, how it relates to the global gold price and the dollar, how the final price of a piece of jewelry is calculated, and what to watch out for when buying and selling gold.

What does 18-karat gold mean?

"Karat" shows the proportion of pure gold in a metal. 24-karat gold is almost pure, but it is too soft for making jewelry. In 18-karat gold, 18 out of 24 parts are pure gold; that is, 750 parts per thousand or 75 percent gold, with the rest being metals such as copper and silver that give it strength and color. That is why 18-karat gold pieces are usually stamped with the number "750".

In Iran's market, almost all jewelry gold is 18-karat, and the "price per gram of gold" quoted by gold shops refers to this karat. For the price of purer gold, see the 24-karat gold price page.

How is the price of 18-karat gold determined?

The gold price in Iran is made up of two main components: the global gold price and the open-market dollar rate. The global gold price is quoted in dollars per ounce (about 31.1 grams); you can follow it on the global gold ounce price (XAU/USD) page. If you multiply the ounce price by the open-market dollar rate and divide it by the weight of one ounce, you get the price of one gram of pure gold in Toman, and multiplying that by 0.75 gives the theoretical price of one gram of 18-karat gold:

Price per gram of 18k gold ≈ (ounce price × dollar rate ÷ 31.1035) × 0.75

The actual market price is not always exactly equal to this figure. Domestic supply and demand, the costs of bringing gold in and out of the country, and market expectations cause the domestic price to be slightly higher or lower than the theoretical price; this gap is sometimes called the gold price "bubble" or "lag".

Mazaneh and mesghal: the language of Tehran's gold market

In the wholesale market, gold is traded by "mazaneh": the price of one mesghal (4.6083 grams) of 17-karat melted gold (705 parts per thousand). To convert mazaneh into the price per gram of 18-karat gold, the mazaneh is divided by 4.3318 . If you hear news about a "rise in mazaneh", it means the price per gram of 18-karat gold has gone up by the same proportion.

Factors affecting the price of 18-karat gold

• Dollar rate: The most influential short-term factor in Iran. A jump or drop in the dollar shows up in the gold price almost immediately.
• Global gold price: The gold ounce reacts to US interest rates, global dollar strength, inflation and geopolitical crises. Follow Federal Reserve decisions and US inflation data in the economic calendar .
• Inflation and domestic expectations: During inflationary periods, demand for gold as a safe haven for savings rises.
• Season and occasions: Around Nowruz, wedding season and special occasions, demand for jewelry gold increases.

How is the final price of a piece of gold jewelry calculated?

When you buy a necklace or ring, you don't pay only for the gold. A gold shop's invoice usually includes these components:

To quickly calculate the price of a piece, use the "Gold Price Calculator" tool on this page: enter the weight, making charge and profit to get an approximate price at the live rate.

Types of 18-karat gold on the market

All 18-karat gold is the same in terms of raw gold value, but it behaves differently when buying and selling:

• New gold: Newly made jewelry sold with a making charge and seller's profit. It carries the highest extra costs and is suited to wearing as jewelry, not short-term investment.
• Second-hand (used) gold: Jewelry that has been sold before and that the gold seller resells with a lower making charge or none at all. If it is intact and clean, it is a more cost-effective option for saving.
• Melted gold: Melted gold in the form of a piece or small bar, traded along with a lab certificate (assay mark). It has no making charge and is mostly used for investment and wholesale trading.
• White gold and rose gold: Their different color comes from the mix of alloy metals; if they are 18-karat, they contain the same 75 percent pure gold and their raw gold price is the same as yellow gold, although the making charge may be higher.

How can you be sure of gold's authenticity and karat?

Gold's karat cannot be identified by eye, and most scams happen at exactly this point. A few simple ways to reduce the risk:

• Check the assay mark and the "750" stamp on the piece, and buy from a seller who is a member of the Gold and Jewelry Union.
• For melted gold, always ask for a valid lab certificate showing the exact weight and karat.
• If the offered price is much lower than the live price on this page, take the possibility of low-karat or fake gold seriously.
• When buying online, check the store's credibility and return policy, and get an official invoice.

Key tips for buying and selling gold

• Get a valid invoice: Weight, karat, making charge, profit and price per gram should each be listed separately on the invoice.
• Watch the making charge: If your goal is saving, low-making-charge or melted gold is a better choice, because the making charge is not returned when you sell.
• When selling: Second-hand gold is usually bought only at its raw gold value, without the making charge and profit, and sometimes with other deductions too.
• Compare prices: The live price on this page is a good basis for negotiating.

18K gold, or coins and melted gold?

If your goal is investment rather than jewelry, you have other options too. The full Bahar Azadi (Emami) coin and the half coin carry no making charge, but they may trade at a bubble, meaning their price is higher than the value of the gold they contain. The gram coin suits smaller amounts, and melted gold (with a certificate from a reputable lab) has the lowest extra costs. To compare all these options, see the full list of gold and coin prices .

Over the long term, gold has been a good hedge against inflation, but in the short term it can fall significantly, especially when the dollar corrects after a surge. The information on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell.